REP - Certified Renewable Energy Professional Environmental Impacts of Renewables Questions and Answers

Question 1

A wind farm developer is conducting an environmental impact assessment for a site located along a major avian migratory route.
Which of the following mitigation strategies has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing bird collision fatalities?

Accepted Answer

Painting one turbine blade black to increase its visibility.

Answer

Installing ultrasonic acoustic deterrents around the turbines.

Answer

Using smaller, faster-rotating turbine blades.

Answer

Planting native vegetation at the base of the turbines to attract birds away from the blades.

Question 2

When comparing the water consumption of utility-scale solar power technologies, what is the primary reason that Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants with wet cooling typically have a much higher water footprint than Photovoltaic (PV) plants?

Accepted Answer

CSP plants operate as thermal power plants and require large amounts of water for cooling steam in a turbine cycle.

Answer

PV panels require frequent, high-pressure washing to maintain efficiency.

Answer

CSP plants use water as a primary medium for heat transfer from the solar collectors.

Answer

The manufacturing process for CSP mirrors is significantly more water-intensive than for PV cells.

Question 3

While large-scale hydropower is often considered a low-carbon energy source, what is a significant, and sometimes overlooked, source of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the creation of large reservoirs, particularly in tropical regions?

Accepted Answer

The anaerobic decomposition of submerged vegetation and organic matter, releasing methane.

Answer

The release of carbon dioxide from the chemical reaction of water with certain types of rock.

Answer

Increased water vapor in the atmosphere from evaporation, which acts as a potent greenhouse gas.

Answer

Emissions from the large quantities of concrete used to construct the dam.

Question 4

A renewable energy professional is assessing the environmental concerns for a proposed geothermal power plant that will use an open-loop (flash steam) system. Which of the following airborne pollutants is a primary concern requiring specific abatement systems for this type of plant?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) released with the geothermal steam.

Answer

Particulate matter (PM2.5) from underground rock dust.

Answer

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the high-temperature geothermal fluid.

Answer

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) used as a dielectric in plant equipment.

Question 5

A project manager is developing a decommissioning plan for a 25-year-old utility-scale solar farm. Which of the following represents the most significant challenge in the end-of-life management of the photovoltaic (PV) panels?

Accepted Answer

The economic cost of recycling often exceeds the value of recovered materials and landfill fees.

Answer

The high radioactivity of the silicon wafers after decades of sun exposure.

Answer

The lack of technically feasible methods to separate glass from the solar cells.

Answer

The rapid degradation of the aluminum frames, making them unsuitable for any form of reuse.

Question 6

The concept of 'Indirect Land Use Change' (ILUC) is a major environmental concern for certain types of bioenergy. Which scenario best describes this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

A farmer converts existing corn fields from food production to ethanol production, causing another farmer elsewhere to clear forest land to grow more corn for the food market.

Answer

A farmer directly clears a section of forest to plant dedicated energy crops.

Answer

A bioenergy facility is built on land previously used for industrial purposes.

Answer

Crop yields on a bioenergy plantation decrease over time, requiring the use of more land to produce the same amount of fuel.

A wind farm developer is conducting an environmental impact assessment for a site located along a major avian migratory route.Which of the following mitigation strategies has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing bird collision fatalities?

A wind farm developer is conducting an environmental impact assessment for a site located along a major avian migratory route.
Which of the following mitigation strategies has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing bird collision fatalities?